Background

Kyle, a 36-year-old male residing in Missoula, Montana, balances his role as a teacher with inner work, dedicating time to introspection and mindfulness. Raised in Big Fort, Montana, he acknowledges the beauty of his surroundings, realizing the need to appreciate the majesty that many are not fortunate enough to experience.

Coming from a family with a strong history in Jehovah’s Witnesses, Kyle experienced a strict form of Christianity until he left at 18, facing significant impact and trauma. In his 20s, he explored agnosticism and even atheism but felt an inescapable spiritual need akin to the necessity of exercising the body or educating the mind. Therapy introduced him to mindfulness through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), laying the foundation for his interest in Buddhism.

Kyle’s journey into Buddhism progressed from mindfulness apps to a search for a Sangha, recognizing the importance of the three refuges: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The Sangha, being the most challenging refuge, proved difficult to find in sparsely populated areas like Northwest Montana. Despite the challenges, Kyle believes that genuine community, embodying interbeing, peace, and love, is a shared desire for all beings.